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General First nameIan Robert Graham
LastnameDowdeswell
GenderMale
CountryRhodesia
Date of birth1941-05-09
Place of birthNairobi, Kenya
Date of death2023-02-19
Place of deathZionsville, Indiana, United States of America


About

From: Ian Robert Graham Dowdeswell Obituary (2023) - Zionsville, IN - Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary (A.R.N. Cremation) - Zionsville

Ian Robert Graham Dowdeswell, doctor, husband, father, grandfather, brother, sportsman and special friend to many peacefully passed away on 19th February 2023. Ian was born on 9th May 1941 in Nairobi, Kenya, to Sheila Marguerite (née Paterson) and Roland Melville Dowdeswell, and is the eldest of three sons.

Ian began school in England and finished in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) interspersed with schooling in Beirut and Cairo. He went on to be one of the founding students at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyassaland with the view of completing his medical studies at Saint Thomas’s Hospital, London, where he met Christine.

Throughout his studies he managed to hitch hike through Europe, probably with his tennis and squash racquets in tow. He began his squash and tennis careers before he could walk. He was always happy to put his hand to cricket on his free weekends before moving to Indianapolis. To his family he would be off having a game of squash after work, to his opponents he was a fierce competitor warming up for the numerous tournaments.

From a very young age Ian decided he was going to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a doctor. His medical career spanned nearly 50 years across three continents. Caring for patients, people and family was his passion. Imparting knowledge was his desire when he taught medical students at the University of Rhodesia and Indiana University Medical School. He thoroughly enjoyed his diverse career culminating in 30 years at the V.A. Hospital in Indianapolis and had great admiration for many veterans that were under his care.

Ian lived a life full of adventure, hard work and fun. He made lasting friendships wherever we went. He had many a tale to tell and is sorely missed by many. Ian is survived by his wife, Christine; brothers, Roger and Colin; children, Karen (Tom), Rosalind (David) and Roland (Vera); and grandchildren, Alexandra, Antonia, Bethany, Ian, Elieah and Tomasz.

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Archive statistics Career1960 - 1972
Tournament wins0
Matches8
Match wins2


Tournaments Western Province - 1972 Essex Championships - 1961 Surrey Hard Court Championships - 1961 Kent Championships - 1960 London Hard Courts - 1960 Lowther - 1960